HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Variance to the height restriction to allow construction of a garage at 415 Garden Road a L 1E
CITY OF AMES, IOWA AUG 2 1 2012
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTME T CITY CLERK
CITY OF AMES,IOWA
IN THE MATTER OF THE
APPLICATION OF GEIL FOR A CASE NO. 12-13
VARIANCE TO THE HEIGHT
RESTRICTIONS, SECTION GEOCODE NO. 09-23-205-120
29.408(7)(a)(ii)(a), AMES MUNICIPAL
CODE, TO ALLOW CONSTRUCTION
OF A GARAGE ON THE PROPERTY
LOCATED AT 415 GARDEN ROAD DECISION & ORDER
FACTS
The property at this address is a single family detached home. It is located in an RL (Low
Density Residential) zoning district. The house is a single story ranch style structure and there is
not presently a garage on the site. The homeowner had poured a concrete slab for the garage but
stopped without further construction when he found out the proposed garage height was not in
compliance with the zoning. The zoning ordinance limits the height of a detached garage to no
more than the height of the principal structure. Under the zoning code, the height of a structure
with a pitched roof is measured from the adjacent grade to the midpoint between the eaves and
the peak ridge of the roof. In this situation, the height of the home is 12 feet and the height of the
proposed garage is 14 feet 3 inches. Since the proposed garage would be taller than the home,
the homeowner is seeking a variance to allow his project. The garage that the homeowner wants
to build would be 30 feet by 30 feet, with a 6:12 pitched roof on 10 foot sidewalls. The lot is
deep and the proposed location of the garage would be in the rear yard,but the rear yard is on the
same level as the house so the garage would be visibly taller than the house. The homeowner
had not considered attaching the garage in any fashion, but an attached garage would not be
limited in height and there are fairly easy ways to accomplish a connection.
DECISION
The Board considers the standards applicable to requests for variances from the provisions of the
zoning ordinance. In this situation, while the project contemplated would improve this property,
it has not been shown that there are any unique circumstances associated with the situation nor
will unnecessary hardship result if the variance is not granted. The area where this is to be
constructed is vacant space and the structure itself is only in the planning stage, so there is
complete freedom to alter the location and size so that compliance with the code can be attained.
Since there are several options which would allow compliance with the code, it would not be in
the spirit of the ordinance to grant a variance and it should and will be denied.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the Applicant is Denied a Variance to the Height
Restrictions for a Detached Garage in an RL (Low Density Residential) zoning district, section
29.408(7)(a)(ii)(a) of the Ames Municipal Code, to allow construction of a detached garage
whose height exceeds the principal structure, all for on the property located at 415 Garden Road.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after
the filing of this decision.
Done this 25th day of July, 2012.
-�C' cc,
*etary
Bruce Calhoun
he Board Chair